Inside Windows Media: Amazon.ca: Corp Microsoft: Books

Product Description

Book Description

Inside Windows Media Technologies provides an end-to-end solution for creating and streaming multimedia content. Each section contains both conceptual information and step-by-step instructions to help guide you through creating a streaming media solution. Inside Windows Media Technologies is divided into four primary sections to address the specific needs of individual users: Content Creation, Streaming Content, Designing the Client Experience, and Advanced Topics.

From the Back Cover

Inside Windows Media Technologies provides an end-to-end solution for creating and streaming multimedia content. Each section contains both conceptual information and step-by-step instructions to help guide you through creating a streaming media solution. Inside Windows Media Technologies is divided into four primary sections to address the specific needs of individual users: Content Creation, Streaming Content, Designing the Client Experience, and Advanced Topics.

See all Product Description

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

8 Reviews

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

3.5 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Short on technical content. Too light. Too dated., July 30 2002

By

John Harpur (Trim, Meath, IRELAND) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Inside Windows Media (Paperback)

This text was published in 1999 and is accompanied by a CD of code and utilities. I wouldn't advise installing the CD in an XP environment, but seems fine under 2000, etc. Download the latest Windows Media SDK from Microsoft if using XP.

While the book has lots of interesting overview material, very little is tackled in depth. In fact, much of the book seems like padding around a few technical chunks. The programming content of the book is in chapter 9 and deals exclusively with automating various aspects of Windows Media (e.g. Windows Media Encoder). In this repsect, the title is misleading.

Personally, I was very disappointed to see so little on .avi. The specification of an avi file was only briefly described (you have to go to the web to get avi information of any quality). There is simply no good reason for failing to detail avi. Why Micorsoft doesn't devote a chunk of web pages to .avi is simply beyond me. The authors of this text mention avi only to dismiss it and argue for asf as the better standard.

The comparison between avi and asf is nicely arranged but surprisingly no avi or asf parser is discussed, despite RIFF parsers having been around for years. A whole lyer of background information was simply not there on the origins of these standards.

The two pages on codecs (229-230) are grossly inadequate and give a flimsy overview of developments. For instance, the Intel Indeo codecs are not mentioned at all despite their success with avi compression.

My overall impression is that the book is largely dated by the advent of XP media technologies and egregiously short on meaty technical detail. Unfortunately Microsoft haven't yet produced a suitable programmer's guide to windows media programming. So if you are really stuck and can't spent a few hours conducting intelligent web searches for resources, this book will meet some of your requirements. In the final analysis, however, this book is poor value for its price.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars At last! A how to book that lives up to it's name!, Jun 25 2001

By

Mark S. Roupe (Topeka, Kansas, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Inside Windows Media (Paperback)

I have been designing/maintaining large scale web sites since early in 1995. This is one of the best written books from Microsoft - period. You WILL be able to create and upload your Windows Media creations after reading this book. If you are expereienced working with RealSlideshow Plus, RealProducer Plus and/or GRINS, this book it for you! I highly recommend this book - this is a buy.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, Feb 7 2001

By

YB - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Windows Media (Paperback)

The book is good with explanations and a lot of can/cannot do could be found in it. The theory is explained mostly well but some times it doesn't provide enough examples. Chapter 4 is well written and I could find all the knowledge I needed. If you need to put together Encoder and Streaming server read carefully chapters 3, 4 and 5. If you need to automate Encoders and Streaming servers Than Chapter 9 can help you, with automating streaming servers just if you know C, if you're a VB guy, simply don't waste your time and go to the SDK. Generally, if automation is what you're looking for and you already have the basic knowledge of Streaming over IP than that's not the book for you.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 8 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 7 reviews 3.3 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars inside windows media
Good overview if you're using Microsoft encoder. Lacks depth in specifications, technical issues, etc.

Published on May 30 2000 by S. Lee

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad book, but overpriced
This book was helpful, but it was overpriced. The information in there while useful and easy to understand, was at times too general and didnt give you specific enough examples of... Read more

Published on Feb 29 2000 by I. Lipsky